WASHINGTON, April 28, 2015—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has updated the list of regulated articles to reflect the removal of Celtis (hackberry) as a known host genus for the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB). APHIS took this action based on evidence that ALB is unable to complete its lifecycle on species within the Celtis genus. Therefore, Celtis trees no longer need to be inspected or considered for treatment.

Updating the list of regulated articles is necessary to remove Celtis as an ALB regulated article as the amendment impacts eradication of the insect from affected areas in the U.S. and may have impacts to organizations such as nurseries, site developers, construction companies, tree service companies, landscapers, garden centers, and utility companies.

ALB is a destructive wood-boring pest of maple and other hardwoods that is believed to have been introduced into the United States from wood pallets and other wood packing material accompanying cargo shipments from Asia. ALB was first discovered on several hardwood trees in the United States in Brooklyn, New York, in 1996. ALB has been detected in Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Ohio. The infestations in Illinois and New Jersey, along with the areas of Manhattan, Staten Island and Islip, New York and Boston, Massachusetts, have been declared eradicated.

Federal and state-imposed ALB quarantines currently exist in Massachusetts, New York and Ohio. Both federal and state laws establish regulated areas around ALB infestations. The regulated areas assist in eradication by curtailing the movement of host materials. For more information about Asian longhorned beetle, visit http://www.aphis.usda.gov or www.AsianLonghornedBeetle.com.